Winter finally seems to be gone this time. The local tracks all put in the hard work to prepare for the upcoming season and racers everywhere are getting their cars tweaked for racing as best they can. The weather on this day, although a tad cool in the morning, was nearly perfect. A great day for the Spring Open House at the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing (EMMR). But this time, there was something different. If you looked past the hot rods assembled for the Cruise In, you’d notice the flag in front of the museum was at half mast. This was not only a day for an open house, but also a day to celebrate the life and memory of recently departed Jeff Golden, who is now patrolling Heaven instead of the museum.

I won’t pretend to have known Jeff like everyone else who showed up to honor him. Sure, it’s been years of saying “hello” to him at the museum and different event displays, and he always returned a warm reply and often kind words, but I never knew him with the same depth these people did. And when the sharing time of his Celebration of Life was over, there couldn’t be a single doubt as to the quality of character and caring of Jeff Golden and how he touched the lives of everyone he came in contact with while promoting this sport he loved. While Jeff wasn’t there in person, his influence on every person in attendance was fully on display. He’d be smiling for sure.

Lots of great cars to be seen out there on display, with enough variety to make everyone happy. A few trucks to balance off the field and even a 2001 Toyota Corolla, something you won’t see often (maybe never beyond this one) at a car show.

Steve Manger, the proud owner of the Corolla, said he always wanted to buy a car and own it long enough to put antique tags on it. Although you wouldn’t normally think of doing this with a Corolla, Manger has carefully maintained this car through the years and it’s an excellent example from that time period. Proof positive you don’t have to have a rare muscle car to have a love affair with a car (although Manger also owns some hot rods to go with the Toyota).

And with all the great cars on display, there were some pretty interesting examples in the parking area, too.

In addition to the street cars, there were a handful of nostalgic drag cars on display. An excellent display of hot rodding as it was done back in the day! And if that wasn’t enough, to top off the day, the legendary voice of Frankie Burke announced the cackling of some of the nostalgia drag cars to cap this wonderful day of memories of not only Jeff Golden, but the legendary cars and drivers who are the building blocks of what the sport is today. If you get the opportunity, visit EMMR and see what makes people like the unforgettable Jeff Golden passionate about the sport and the people who built it.

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